In most communities, land use regulations are based on a limited model that allows for only one end result: the production of more and more suburbia, composed of endless subdivisions and shopping centers, that ultimately covers every bit of countryside with "improvements." Fortunately, sensible alternatives to this approach do exist, and methods of developing land while at the same time conserving natural areas are available. In Conservation Design for Subdivisions, Randall G. Arendt explores better ways of designing new residential developments than we have typically seen in our communities. He presents a practical handbook for residential developers, site designers, local officials, and landowners that explains how to implement new ideas about land-use planning and environmental protection. Abundantly illustrated with site plans (many of them in color), floor plans, photographs, and renditions of houses and landscapes, it describes a series of simple and straightforward techniques that allows for land-conserving development. The author proposes a step-by-step approach to conserving natural areas by rearranging density on each development parcel as it is being planned so that only half (or less) of the buildable land is turned into houselots and streets. Homes are built in a less land-consumptive manner that allows the balance of property to be permanently protected and added to an interconnected network of green spaces and green corridors. Included in the volume are model zoning and subdivision ordinance provisions that can help citizens and local officials implement these innovative design ideas.

A major revision of a classic planning text. This book contains a complete model subdivision ordinance for city and county governments as well as more than 100 pages of legal commentary. The model regulations are generally compatible with all state statutes and work in urban, suburban, and rural settings. They show how communities can finance capital facilities, balance new development with existing surroundings, avoid exposure to the legal pitfalls of takings and substantive due process claims, and much more. Two new chapters cover public facilities impact fees and land readjustment. The chapter on impact fees includes a section on regulatory takings law that looks at how prominent U.S. Supreme Court cases have affected property rights, development, and regulation. Each section of the model regulations is followed by insightful commentary that supports, annotates, and documents the text. The authors explore the rationale for using various regulations, basing their arguments on existing statutory authority, case law, and federal constitutional requirements. The commentary identifies and explains changes from the original model regulations. Whether you're drafting new regulations or considering amendments to existing ones, you'll find Model Subdivision Regulations to be an invaluable reference.